Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-M ASPH. M-Mount Lens, 6-Bit, Germany, Black Anodized {E39} 11699

The M-System's first APO-corrected 35mm prime.

Ten elements in five groups sounds modest until you look at what those elements are doing. Six are made from anomalous partial dispersion glass, and three carry aspherical surfaces across four total aspherical faces. The result is apochromatic correction at 35mm, a designation that means red, green, and blue wavelengths land on the same focal plane than scattering at slightly different distances. Chromatic aberration is effectively gone, not managed. For M-system shooters, that's a first at this focal length.

At 40.9mm long and 320g, this lens doesn't ask you to sacrifice the rangefinder form factor for optical ambition. The 39mm filter thread keeps it tidy on the front. More practically, the 30cm minimum focusing distance is the closest in the M-System, with a tactile detent at 0.7m on the focus ring signaling when you've crossed into close-focus territory and need to shift to Live View or an EVF. The 6-bit coding communicates lens data directly to Leica M digital bodies, so exposure and correction profiles apply automatically. At f/2 across a 62.5° angle of view, this is a lens built to the outer limits of what rangefinder optics can deliver.

Who It's For

Street photographers working in mixed or artificial light will find the f/2 maximum aperture and APO correction a meaningful combination, since chromatic fringing in high-contrast scenes simply doesn't appear. Documentary and travel photographers who prioritize a small kit benefit from the 40.9mm barrel that doesn't alter the balance of a M body. Close-up and detail-oriented shooters gain a 30cm minimum focus distance that no previous M-system lens offered, opening up product and intimate portrait work that rangefinder lenses traditionally couldn't handle. Leica M digital users with high-resolution sensors get the full benefit of 6-bit coding and a lens designed to resolve detail without color fringing at wide apertures.

Key Features

• Apochromatic (APO) design with red, green, blue wavelengths focused at same plane
• Six anomalous partial dispersion glass elements with high refractive index
• Three aspherical elements across four aspherical surfaces total
• 35mm f/2 at 62.5° angle of view, full-frame Leica M mount
• 30cm minimum focus distance, closest in M-System, with 0.7m detent
• 6-Bit encoding for automatic exposure and correction on M digital bodies
• 40.9mm length, 320g weight maintains rangefinder form factor
• 39mm filter thread

FAQ

What does APO correction actually do at 35mm?

It brings red, green, and blue wavelengths into focus at the same plane, eliminating chromatic aberration rather than just minimizing it. This is the first APO-corrected 35mm in the M-System.

How close can you focus with this lens?

30cm minimum, the closest of any M-mount lens. The detent at 0.7m tells you when you've entered close-focus range and need to switch to Live View or EVF.

Will this lens work with film M bodies?

Yes. The 6-bit encoding communicates lens data to Leica M digital bodies for automatic exposure and correction profiles, but the lens itself functions on any M-mount body.

Why are there six elements made from anomalous partial dispersion glass?

They handle the wavelength separation that causes chromatic aberration. Combined with high refractive index glass and aspherical surfaces, they achieve apochromatic correction across the frame.

Does the compact size compromise optical performance?

No. At 40.9mm long and 320g, it maintains the rangefinder form factor while delivering optical performance at the limits of what rangefinder optics can do at f/2.

How many aspherical surfaces does this lens have?

Three aspherical elements with four aspherical surfaces total, which reduce spherical aberrations for edge-to-edge sharpness.